BALO Maharaj Murder inquiry

THE MAIN witness in the Balram “Balo” Maharaj murder inquiry failed to appear in court again yesterday.

This was the second consecutive time that the main witness failed to appear.

State prosecutor Jennifer Martin said yesterday that no arrangements were made to have the witness in court.

Israel Khan SC who is leading the prosecution’s case was also absent along with several defence lawyers.

Lead defence attorney Theodore Guerra SC was present.

As a result, the inquiry was put off to July 19.

Doreen Alexander-Durity, Anderson Straker, Corporal Ricardo Stevenson, Kevon Nixon and brothers Wayne and Kenneth Piere are before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court.

They are charged with the murder of United States war veteran Balram Maharaj. Maharaj, 62, of Mount Vernon, New York, was kidnapped outside the Samaan Tree Bar in Aranjuez on April 5, 2005.

His remains were found in the Santa Cruz forest on January 8 this year.